Development of the Czech Farmers’ Age Structure and the Consequences for Subsidy Policy


No 3/2015, September
pp. 57-69

Šimpach O., Pechrová M. (2015) "Development of the Czech Farmers’ Age Structure and the Consequences for Subsidy Policy“, AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 57 – 69. ISSN 1804-1930

Abstract

Only knowing the future development of the farmers’ age structure, it is possible to formulate the steps for its improvement and to plan young farmers’ support. The aim of the paper is (with regard to the European Union’s programme periods) to project the age-and-sex structure of agricultural workers until 2041 and to model the scenarios of subsidies supports. Cohort-component method and data from Census 2011 are used for projection of two variants of population development.The number of old agricultural workers will exceed the number of young in 2026. It will start to grow after as the second generation of children born during the 70s of the last century (under the strong pro-population policy of the communist regime and the government of President Gustav Husák) will enter the reproduction period. As an implication it will be possible (and necessary) to support more applicants. While in 2011 it there were 12.1% of young farmers (potential applicants for subsidies) supported by EUR 205.7 bil., this amount will be able to cover 18.6% in 2041.

Keywords

Age-and-sex structure, population projection, subsidies’ policy, young farmer.

References

  1. Alexopoulos, G., Koutsourisa, A. Tzouramani, I. Should I stay or should I go? Factors affecting farmers’ decision to convert to organic farming as well as to abandon it. IFSA: Proceedings of the 9th European IFSA Symposium. 2010, p. 1083-1093. [Online]. Available: http://ifsa.boku.ac.at/cms/fileadmin/Proceeding2010/2010_WS2.3_Alexopouos.pdf [Accessed: 29 Jul 2014].
  2. Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). Pracovní síly v zemědělství, Czech Statistical Office, 2012. [Online]. Available: http://www.czso.cz/csu/2012edicniplan.nsf/t/62002E535B/$File/ 212712k11.pdf [Accessed: 1 Mar 2015].
  3. Davis, J., Caskie, P., Wallace, M. Economics of farmer early retirement policy. Applied Economics. 2009, Vol. 41, No. 1, p. 35–43. ISSN 0003-6846. DOI 10.1080/00036840600994211.
  4. Davis, J, Caskie, P., Wallace, M. Promoting structural adjustment in agriculture: The economics of New Entrant Schemes for farmers. Food Policy. 2013, Vol. 40, p. 90–96. ISSN 0306-9192. DOI 10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.02.006.
  5. Dotlačilová, P., Šimpach, O., Langhamrová, J. DERAS Versus MS EXCEL Solver in Levelling the Life Expectancy at Birth. 13th Conference on Applied Mathematics – Aplimat 2014. 2014, p. 108–114. ISBN 978-80-227-4140-8.
  6. Dotlačilová, P., Šimpach, O. Polynomial functions and smoothing of mortality rates: The Czech Republic and Slovakia during their independent development after their separation. 14th Conference on Applied Mathematics – Aplimat 2015. 2015, p. 221–231. ISBN 978-80-227-4314-3.
  7. Fiala, T., Langhamrová, J. ICT experts in the Czech Republic - development in the past and future prospects. Proceedings of the 19th IDIMT Conference (Interdisciplinary Information Management Talks). 2011, p. 51–58.
  8. Fiala, T., Langhamrová, J. The Expected Development of the Graduates of Informatics Field. Proceedings of the 20th IDIMT Conference (Interdisciplinary Information Management Talks). 2012, p. 257 - 358. ISBN 978-3-99033-022-7.
  9. Galanopoulos, K., Abas, Z. Laga, V., Hatziminaoglou, I., Boyazogluc, J. The technical efficiency of transhumance sheep and goat farms and the effect of EU subsidies: Do small farms benefit more than large farms? Small Ruminant Research. 2011, Vol. 100, p. 1-7. ISSN 0921-4488. DOI 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.05.008.
  10. Jöhr, H. Where are the Future Farmers to Grow Our Food? International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. 2012, Vol. 15, Iss. A (special issue), p. 9–11.
  11. Lee, R.D., Carter, L.R. Modelling and forecasting U.S. mortality. Journal of the American Statistical Association. 1992, vol. 87, p. 659-675. DOI 10.2307/2290201.
  12. Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Program rozvoje venkova na období 2014–2020, Ministry of Agriculture, 2014a. [Online]. Available: http://eagri.cz/public/web/file/321101/PRV_do_vlady.pdf [Accessed: 12 Mar. 2015].
  13. Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). 17. zasedání MV PRV 18. 11. 2014, Ministry of Agriculture, 2014b. [Online]. Available: http://eagri.cz/public/web/mze/dotace/program-rozvoje-venkovana-obdobi-2007/monitorovaci-vybor/podklady-z-jednani/x17-zasedani-mv-prv-18-11-2014.html [Accessed: 12 Mar. 2015].
  14. Polain, J. D., Berry, H. L., Hoskin, J. O. Rapid change, climate adversity and the next ‘big dry’: Older farmers’ mental health. Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2011, Vol. 19, No. 5, p. 239–243. ISSN 1038-5282, E.ISSN 1440-1584 DOI 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2011.01219.x.
  15. Stauffer, D. Simple tools for forecasts of population ageing in developed countries based on extrapolations of human mortality, fertility and migration. Experimental Gerontology. 2002, Vol. 37, No. 8–9, p. 1131–1136. ISSN 0531-5565. DOI 10.1016/S0531-5565(02)00084-0.
  16. Šimpach, O. Fertility of Czech Females Could Be Lower than Expected: Trends in Future Development of Age-specific Fertility Rates up to the Year 2050. Statistika. 2015, Vol. 95, No. 1, (in press). ISSN 1804-8765.
  17. Šimpach, O., Langhamrová, J. Czech Household Computer Facilities as a Reliable Variable in a Life Expectancy Forecast Model up to the Year 2060. Proceedings of the 20th IDIMT Conference (Interdisciplinary Information Management Talks). 2012, p. 143–152. ISBN 978-3-99033-022-7.
  18. Šimpach, O., Pechrová, M. Assessing the impact of standard of living on the life expectancy at birth using Vector Autoregressive Model. Proceedings of Mathematical Methods in Economics 2013. 2013, p. 921–926.
  19. Šimpach, O., Pechrová, M. The Impact of Population Development on the Sustainability of the Rural Regions. Agrarian perspectives XXIII. – The Community-led Rural Development, 2014, p. 129–136. ISBN 978-80-213-2545-6.
  20. Zawojska, A. Policy Challenges in Reducing Age Imbalances in the EU Agriculture. Economic Science for Rural Development: Resources and education, [Book series]. 2011, Iss. 25, p. 144–152.

Full paper

  Full paper (.pdf, 1.03 MB).